Go Nuts for Walnuts!

I grew up with a native black walnut tree in my back yard. Its ugly green corrugated round fruit would ripen and eventually fall in our yard each year serving as a routine lawn-mowing hazard. My brothers liked to use them to practice their baseball pitches. As they ripened on the ground, they would become yellow-black in color. When they looked like that, you knew not to touch them because their black dye would stain your hands. A great natural dye option perhaps but as a child I didn't have too many uses for that.

English Walnuts were first cultivated in the United States in California in the late 1700's.Today, 99 percent of the U.S. commercial supply of this type of walnut comes from California. A new report last week suggests that walnuts are the healthier nut choice.

Scientists found that walnuts contain twice as many antioxidants as other nuts like peanuts, almonds, pecans, and pistachios. Another reason walnuts are considered better than other nuts is their higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) including both Omega 3's and Omega 6's. Most other nuts are higher in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Walnuts provide the plant based short-chain form of omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) that serves as the precursor for the longer chain Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Buying Tips - Walnuts can easily be found in the produce section or baking aisles of local supermarket and bulk food stores. You can find shelled walnuts as halves, halves and pieces, and chopped in addition to those still in the shell. Since walnuts are harvested in late August through November, you can find them most commonly in the fall. They may be harder to find in the spring especially whole in shell and depending on how they have been stored, they may not be the freshest tasting.

Care and Storage - Warm temperatures increase the likelihood of walnuts turning rancid when they can taste like paint thinner and shouldn't be eaten. To maintain freshness, keep walnuts cold either in a root cellar, refrigerator, or freezer. If the walnuts come in a sealed package, store them in their original packaging to maintain freshness. When purchasing bulk, place walnuts in an airtight container for cold storage. Walnuts absorb flavor of other foods so be sure to refrigerate away from foods like fish or onions that have strong odors. Heat changes the structure of the fat in walnuts which can also change the odor and flavor from the sweet taste and mild nutty smell of fresh.

I too am a big walnut lover but I take slight issue with this article. When dieters log our points/calories/fat grams, we don't make the distinction of good fat versus bad fat. It's all bad and to be ingested in moderation. There really isn't an exception clause saying you can eat all the fat your want as long as it's polyunsaturated fatty acids. I'm not trying to be a killjoy but I argue that the article is slightly misleading. If you dump a cup of nuts on your salad at noon and night, you'll soon find them caught in the wringer. ;) Adjudicate wisely, Sparkers!
- 4/8/2011 10:56:20 AM

I really dislike cashews and I dont care much for pecans or filberts but I will occasionally eat them . I used to like brazil nuts but I can't see to find them in Canada anymore. My mom used to have them when she was a kid. I really like walnuts and almonds.
- 4/6/2011 11:04:50 PM

I'm a freak. I can eat peanuts & almonds, but none of the others. Somedays I get frustrated by the industry pushing everyone to eat Walnuts, Walnuts, Walnuts, but for the most part it doesn't bother me. Then again, whether it's to make me feel better or because they truly don't like them, most people I've talked to say that Walnuts are the worst tasting of them all.
- 4/4/2011 2:58:34 PM

I do like walnuts but the calories put me off eating them. I like all nuts but almond are great, not greasy and they make really handy snack packages for any time I feel hypo. It gets MY BS right back on track.
- 4/4/2011 11:49:16 AM

My favorite tree nuts are almonds and I like grinding them into flour to use in gluten-free recipes. I also love almond butter! I don't think they quite agree with my system, but my next favorite (peanuts) are not actually nuts!
- 4/4/2011 11:19:23 AM

I've always loved hazelnuts and almonds together, and until I read this article I thought almonds were the healthiest nut! I'll have to add walnuts to my homemade dried fruit and nut "trail" mix!! Thanks for the tip!
- 4/4/2011 9:28:09 AM

I have hundreds of Black Walnut trees on our lake property. Every year I pick them up and process them for the next year . I deep them in my freezer all year. Great for baking and Holiday dishes.
- 4/4/2011 8:14:39 AM

I put walnuts in a smoothie that I drink everyday....until I started feeling yucky after drinking it. It took me awhile to figure out what was causing my upset stomach but I finally figured out it was the Walnuts. I do add nuts of some kind baking and oatmeal too but I sure don't eat a lot of walnuts anymore...i miss them ;-) - 4/4/2011 7:23:46 AM

I love walnuts and have to confess that my favorite splurge is a salad from a restaurant in downtown Cincy. It's greens, pears, chicken, blue cheese crumbles, candied walnuts and a white wine vinaigrette. I know.... not the healthiest salad in the world!!
- 4/4/2011 7:12:53 AM

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